LA Kings Suffer 7-2 Blowout Loss to San Jose Sharks: Game Recap

The LA Kings lost 7-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Monday at SAP Center. This match marked the Kings’ worst defeat of the season.

Nico Sturm scored the Sharks’ first goal just two minutes into the game. He converted a breakaway after receiving a stretch pass from Mario Ferraro. Sturm’s goal gave San Jose a 1-0 lead.

In the second period, Brandt Clarke tied the game for the Kings with his third goal of the season. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe helped set up this goal, bringing the score to 1-1.

The Kings took their first lead when Kopitar scored after a rebound from a shot by Kempe, making it 2-1.

However, Fabian Zetterlund quickly equalized for the Sharks at 2-2 with a wraparound goal.

The third period saw a rapid decline for the Kings. The Sharks scored three goals in the first four minutes, pushing their lead to 5-2.

Macklin Celebrini and Timothy Liljegren were key scorers during this surge. Celebrini added another goal on a power play, and Jake Walman extended the lead to 6-2 just after a penalty. Luke Kunin finished the scoring, bringing the game to a final score of 7-2.

Anze Kopitar commented on the team’s performance, mentioning their lack of readiness in the third period and emphasizing the need to avoid stick penalties.

Head Coach Jim Hiller highlighted the team’s strong play in the first two periods but noted their complete breakdown in the third period. He acknowledged the Sharks as a strong team and stressed the importance of being ready to compete.

Key player notes from the game include:

• Brandt Clarke scored his third goal of the season and set a new career-high.
• Adrian Kempe recorded two assists, reaching 20 points this season.
• Anze Kopitar scored and assisted, reaching 25 points for the 19th time in his career.

The Kings will have a day off before returning for a morning skate on Wednesday at 10:30 AM at Toyota Sports Performance Center.